OAK TREE NOTEBOOK
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
Opening Preview
by John Mucciolo
The Oak Tree Racing Association will open its doors for business on Wednesday
for their fantastic fall meeting. Highlighted by the second consecutive running
of the 26th edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on
November 6-7, the Southern California venue will host live racing through
Sunday, November 8.
Racing during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita will be contested on Pro-Ride
for the second consecutive year, making it the third of three unique ovals at
the major Southern California locales. This synthetic mixture has arguably been
the most consistent main strip in the Golden State, while the turf course is
among the best in North America.
A slew of Breeders’ Cup prep events will take place at the Arcadia,
California racetrack, seven coming in the Grade 1 variety. A few key dates to
mark down, in addition to Breeders’ Cup weekend, are as follows:
Saturday, October 3: The day when California-bred runners get to shine
in the form of California Cup Day. The main event is the $200,000 California Cup
Classic.
Sunday, October 4: The $300,000 Norfolk S. (G1) and $300,000 Oak Leaf
S. (G1), a pair of 1 1/16 miles tests for juvenile males and fillies, will
highlight the opening weekend.
Saturday, October 10: This marks the final serious weekend of preps
takes place, led by the $350,000 Goodwood S. (G1), $300,000 Yellow Ribbon S.
(G1), $300,000 Lady’s Secret S. (G1) and the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile S. (G2).
Sunday, October 11: Sunday features the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch
Championship S. (G1) and the $300,000 Ancient Title H. (G1).
The Breeders’ Cup became a showcase for some of the top European-based
athletes in 2008, and we are sure that the synthetic surface had something to do
with making the Championships a more global event. We expect to see even more
international raiders in 2009, but we will focus more on the local stars that we
expect to see during the five-week run.
Champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]): We have to start with the queen
of the west, the unbeaten John Shirreffs trainee who has run clear on 12
consecutive tries. The long-striding mare was easily best in nearly every race
of her career and just might face males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The
Lady’s Secret will be the next stopping point for the five-year-old.
The Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) will have a new champ for the first time since
2006 with two-time star Midnight Lute retired, but Bob Baffert’s speed merchant
ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled’s Song) will hope to give the silver-haired
conditioner his third consecutive and fourth overall win in this dash. He will
likely be training up to the Sprint.
Baffert also has a highly-promising juvenile in the undefeated LOOKIN AT
LUCKY (Smart Strike), who is unbeaten and just bagged the Del Mar Futurity (G1).
We expect to see the rising star in the Norfolk in advance of the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile (G1).
Defending Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint romper VENTURA (Chester House)
seems poised for a repeat after blowing past her male counterparts in a stylish
tally in the Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1) last weekend. The Bobby Frankel-trained
five-year-old is explosive and loves Santa Anita.
Multiple Grade 1 heroine MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]) has rapidly ascended
to the peak of the turf distaff division out here and is expected for the Yellow
Ribbon prior to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).
Kentucky Derby (G1) star MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) is not exactly a local
hero, but the gelding is set to contest the Goodwood prior to facing the big
boys in the Classic for Chip Woolley. He was unplaced in the Juvenile last
October but is infinitely better at this stage of his career.
MIDSHIPMAN (Seeking the Gold), the 2008 champion juvenile, made his much
anticipated return to racing with a sensational allowance coup over a
stakes-quality field at Belmont recently, and the ultra-talented colt will
likely return to the place that vaulted him to stardom. He could wind up in
either the Breeders’ Cup Dirt (G1) or Classic.
Other horses we look forward to seeing at Oak Tree include Pacific Classic
(G1) upsetter RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop Kid), Santa Anita H. (G1) victor
RAIL
TRIP (Jump Start), champion and defending Filly and Mare Turf victress FOREVER
TOGETHER (Belong to Me), dual champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) and
reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner DESERT CODE (E Dubai), who is the top
draw in Wednesday’s Morvich H. (G3).
It should be an exciting meet!